Realism

Realism is the opposite of abstract, the action of representing something by trying to duplicate it exactly. After missing the weeks lecture on Realism, I have been researching the subject to try and educate myself. What I have found is that in today society we strive to reach this notion of 'Realism'. For example, I have found from conversations with my younger brothers and cousins that they now get more excited about the new 'real looking graphics' included within a game, rather than the actual game itself. Focusing on the idea of gaming, the technological quest for realism has come far in the last 20 year, for example;

Duck Hunt 1984



Pokemon 1994



Donkey Kong 1999

Billy Hatcher 2003

Call of Duty 2 2005



Fifa 11 2010


As you've probably realised, yes most of these images are arbitrary representations, but notice how these 'cartoon' images have died out within the graphics of the gaming world. Everyone can remember the hysteria of the release of most of the C.O.D series. And then just this year Fifa 11 practically sold out all over the country. I have found that the main reason for this is due to the fact that the graphics of video games are becoming much more advanced, iconic representations are being used to reach what we call 'realism'

"The Technologies that bought us all the best carnage in life" (Cobbett,R, 2009)